While the government, the EPS, the IPS and the users of the health service confront each other with the aim of obtaining greater resources, coverage and better provision of services, an initiative that is beginning to be cooked in Congress is advancing firmly and in consensus. with the support of President Gustavo Petro, his government team, several parliamentarians and others linked to the health industry, to solve the sector's deficit.

“It cannot be that while the health sector faces a budget crisis, the government seeks reform and needs resources, the EPS are suffocated and many are on the verge of bankruptcy, just like the IPS, and people continue to die at the doors of hospitals. or are dying while waiting for a medical appointment, sports betting and other online betting entrepreneurs are getting rich and, what is worse, squandering millionaire resources that would serve to save lives or at least improve the quality of life of many Colombians.” This is how the senator who presented the project expressed it.

After the parliamentarian's first technical and economic studies, it was concluded that online sports betting and other virtual bets, which have seen notable growth in recent years, provide a new contribution to health. It is complementary to the health reform that begins its debate in the Senate in the legislature that begins next February 16. It also generates unity because it can prevent a new tax reform since it will inject millionaires and new resources into the sector.

The approach considers that although the companies that operate sports betting and other online betting have low taxation and hence their billion-dollar income and profits, although they contribute to the State in taxes, it is not proportional, especially in the context of a health sector in crisis. due to lack of resources.

After substantiating the initiative, President Gustavo Petro learned about the project and agreed to process it in the Congress of the Republic.

Official estimates in 2023 show that the income of the betting sector approached $30 billion, the equivalent of the income of two tax reforms and for 2024 the estimated income projection could reach $32 billion. In contrast, Coljuegos' official balance in terms of transfers to the health sector from January to August 2023 was $564,000 million.